Alpine iDA-X001

I think it is that Full Speed connection that you want to use there. I have an Alpine deck myself and it uses the Full Speed connection to connect to the docking port at the bottom of the iPod.



I just double checked mine since the Alpine FAQ does not list the Nano 3G in its compatibility list and does not guarantee comparability with newer models. http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/support/faq.php?modelname=iDA-X001&faqid=101

The 3G Nano connected and worked fine with mine though and it is an older and lower model than the one you are looking to buy. It "should" work with that one as well.

Message was edited by: Anthony Donnelly

Looks like a nice unit. I was thinking about getting an Alpine head unit for my other car as well. I might look into that one myself. It has some nice features missing in the one I have. Screen is much nicer for one.

today i bought and installed the alpine ida-x001. i connected a usb stick (dos-formatted), and it worked. then i connected my ipod photo (mac formatted) to the same usb cable on the alpine unit. i get a "usb device error".

ok, i reformatted the ipod in dos format (using disk utility under os x) and synced again (finished with no errors in itunes). however, after disconnecting the ipod it couldn't start up (folder icon with exclamation mark). so i restored it to mac format. on the apple support pages i found out: dos-formatted ipods can't be synced from mac os, that's why the ipod failed after dos-formatting.

so here's my question:
there's this fullspeed/direct connection cable available (optional). does this alpine unit support mac-formatted ipods using this fullspeed connection cable? or anyone using an alpine unit with fullspeed ipod connection, is the ipod mac-formatted (e.g. synced under itunes/mac os x)? thanks a lot!

tuscan wrote:
so here's my question:
there's this fullspeed/direct connection cable available (optional). does this alpine unit support mac-formatted ipods using this fullspeed connection cable? or anyone using an alpine unit with fullspeed ipod connection, is the ipod mac-formatted (e.g. synced under itunes/mac os x)? thanks a lot!

The fullspeed/direct connection cable is exactly what I use. I didn't think it was optional when I purchased mine (an older unit). If it was optional the guy didn't tell me it was and just went ahead and put it in. I did tell him I was very interested in iPod connectivity so maybe he did just "include" it.

I have used my new Nano 3G, 5G and Touch with the cable, all are formatted Mac and all seem to work with no issues.

Once connected the screen on the iPod goes white and all control is turned over to the Alpine Head Unit.

Hope that helps.

Message was edited by: Anthony Donnelly

anthony, thanks a lot! your answer really helpes and clarifies 🙂

so you say even the new ipod touch still works with this cable - i assume the same is true for the new nano and classic.

tuscan wrote:
anthony, thanks a lot! your answer really helpes and clarifies 🙂

so you say even the new ipod touch still works with this cable - i assume the same is true for the new nano and classic.

I have tested my unit (which as I had mentioned is an older one) with the iPod Touch and the new Nano (3G). I don't have a classic so I can't speak for that one working, but it would be hard to imagine that classic would be the only new model to not work.

It would also be hard to imagine if these new devices work on a year old head unit that they would not also work on the iDA-X001.

When you connect the touch the screen goes white with a gray iPod logo and the text "accessory connected" below it.

At that point the source on the head unit is switched automatically to iPod (at least that is how it works on my unit) and control is turned over to the head unit.

so, yesterday i went and bought... not a fullspeed cable, but a new ipod classic instead.

it's mac formatted, connected via the standard usb cable, and works perfectly together with the alpine ida-x001! sure, that's no solution to connect an ipod photo to the unit (which was my primary task to do), but still it's satisfying.

I'm considering purchasing a Nano 3G and an Alpine iDA-X001. I'm confused as to which cable works best with the Nano 3G and X001. It seems that the X001 comes with a cable and then you can purchase a separate cable (KCE-422i). So which cable should I use for better performance / features when connecting the Nano 3G to the X001?

Oh, I'm purchasing from Crutchfield since I have gift certificate to use for their site.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-dfI4xA0r7oV/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=300&i=500I DAX001&tp=5684&tab=other_items

I downloaded the X001 manual from Alpine's site and it looks like you can have the iPod cable AND a separate USB cable (for connecting other MP3 players / flash drives). Can this really be done (connecting both the iPod cable and a separate USB cable?

IsLNdbOi wrote:
It seems that the X001 comes with a cable and then you can purchase a separate cable (KCE-422i).

The KCE-4221 for $30 (more or less) is the full-speed cable and will give you the full control over the iPod. You can put in the glove box or wherever you wish to place it. You will have full control of songs, albums, genres etc. through the iDA-X001 display.

You can then connect a separate device if you wish to the USB cable. You will not have full control of that device through the display like you will with the full-speed cable. But yes, you can connect both.

That unit also offers an optional bluetooth kit I believe which should give you the ability to use handsfree phone and also connect bluetooth audio devices.

I'm really confused now. I asked this as well on iLounge and they say over there that the USB cable supplied with the X001 is the one that will give me the most features when connecting my Nano to my X001.

I went ahead and ordered these:

iDA-X001
TUA-T500HD HD Radio Add-On Tuner
KCA-410C Ai-Net Multi Changer/Versatile Link Adapter
KCA-620M USB Adapter to Ai-Net
KCE-300BT Bluetooth Interface

With this setup, I'll have the USB port on the back of the X001 AND a second USB port from the KCA-620M to use with flash drives and hard drives. I'll also have two auxiliary inputs (one for my GPS nav unit and another for anything else).

This cable that will give you the full control of the iPod via the head unit. Direct from the "horses mouth"

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product_acc.php?model=KCE-422i

The USB cable seems a little vague on what control it gives you. I think it only works with 5G and above units. Let me know how it works with the 3G Nano. I am curious as to what controls it does or does not give you.

Message was edited by: Anthony Donnelly

If I don't connect the HD Radio module, will it still be shown as one of the available sources when I cycle through the sources with the source button?

Also, is it true that you can't use the back button to go through the previous screens? I read something about it not remembering the previous "windows" you were in and having to start over again when you need to go back to a previous window / menu / screen.

Does the X001's AM/FM tuner have RDS (it's a feature on some radios that let them show the station's name, name of the song that the radio station is currently playing, etc.)?